Game Day: Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks

VICKI HALL, Calgary Herald04.04.2013

Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman figures to shoulder a heavy load in San Jose on Friday night. Mark Giordano is staying in Cowtown to be with his wife, who is about to give birth, while workhorse Jay Bouwmeester is now in St. Louis.

With Jay Bouwmeester gone to St. Louis and Mark Giordano at home with his pregnant wife in Calgary to welcome the birth of their first child, Wideman can expect a heavy, heavy workload against Joe Thornton and Co.

At the wise old age of 33, Jumbo Joe continues to dominate with seven goals and 35 points to lead the Sharks in scoring. Six points in his last four games.

DEPTH CHART

P. Marleau L. Couture T. Wingels

B. Burns J. Thornton M. Havlat

S. Gomez A. Desjardins A. Burish

T.J. Galiardi J. Pavelski J. Sheppard

D. Boyle M. Irwin

B. Stuart M. Tennyson

M. Vlasic J. Braun

A. Niemi

T. Greiss

THE INJURIES

D Scott Hannan (upper body), LW Tim Kennedy (undisclosed)

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Paging the leadership group — stat: As any suffering fan can tell you, the Flames are flat-out reeling on the heels of an 8-2 loss on home ice to their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers. In times of turmoil, the onus is on the veterans within the locker-room to pull everyone together and refocus the troops — even with a playoff spot out of reach. Alex Tanguay, Michael Cammalleri, Curtis Glencross, Cory Sarich and Mark Giordano (after tending to matters at home) — this is your time . . .

2. Miikka the Magnificent? Back in the net for the first time after turning down a trade to the Toronto Maple Leaf, Miikka Kiprusoff remains someone of a mystery at age 36. By his standards, Kiprusoff’s numbers this season are downright deplorable with a goals-against-average of 3.64 and a save percentage of .868. Yanked in his last two outings, the silent Finn could be winding down his NHL career . . . or could be determined to prove he still has what it takes to shine at this level. He didn’t have the heart to join the Maple Leafs. Does he have the heart to jack up his performance and play for another season in Calgary? Stay tuned.

3. Eleven . . . and counting: No one need remind the Flames of their brutal record on the road as of late with 11 straight losses away from the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Sharks are riding a six-game winning streak and gunning for a playoff berth, so the visitors can expect a tough night at the office as they adjust to life in the spoiler role. Curtis Glencross called an 8-2 drubbing at home Wednesday night against the Edmonton Oilers “rock bottom.” Unless the Flames experience a sudden resurgence, it’s hard to imagine this team not realizing a deeper bottom before the season is through (which is good news to fans cheering for the team to draft first or second overall.)

4. The Torres Factor: As if the Flames weren’t already agitated, master pest Raffi Torres could play tonight after coming over from the Phoenix Coyotes at the deadline for a third-round draft pick. With his career (and reputation) in shambles to start the season, Torres appears to have reformed his ways. Still, he’s hardly a treat for any team to face — including a Calgary team that likely can’t wait for this to be mercifully over.

5. Defensive Deficiencies: After the latest loss to Edmonton, the Flames sunk to 30th place in the entire NHL when it comes to goals against (an average of 3.51.) Barring a retro-style performance from Miikka Kiprusoff, those numbers could look even more rancid after games tonight against the high-flying Sharks and Saturday’s tilt against the soap opera that is the Vancouver Canucks.

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